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In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore a topic that often feels uncomfortable but quietly shapes careers more than performance alone: internal networking.

Many procurement professionals associate networking with politics, self-promotion or big events. But internal leverage is not about being the loudest in the room. It is about building genuine, consistent relationships that create influence, sponsorship and long-term career optionality.

Donna and Laura unpack why internal networking feels emotive, how fear of perception holds professionals back, and why clarity of purpose changes everything. They discuss how procurement’s unique cross-functional position creates powerful opportunity, and how relationships built beyond projects can open doors you did not even know existed.

This conversation reframes internal networking from something awkward or transactional into something strategic, intentional and career-defining.

In this episode we explore:

1. Why internal networking feels uncomfortable
   How fear of judgement and misconceptions about personality types stop capable professionals from building influence.
2. Purpose before action
   The importance of knowing whether you are building relationships to perform better, increase visibility or position yourself for future opportunities.
3. Starting with what you already have
   How to leverage existing strengths, stakeholder maps and past relationship success to build confidence.
4. Moving beyond project-based relationships
   Why the strongest careers are built on connections that continue after the work ends.
5. Procurement’s unique cross-functional advantage
   How the touchpoints across the organisation create opportunities for influence, sponsorship and even career pivots.
6. Consistency over intensity
   Why showing up steadily and genuinely builds more leverage than transactional networking.

Takeaways

A reframed view of internal networking as strategic career leverage rather than self-promotion.

Practical reflection points to identify where your internal relationships are strong and where opportunity exists.

Encouragement to build influence before you need it, rather than waiting for a restructure, promotion or crossroads moment.

A reminder that internal sponsorship and opportunity rarely happen by accident.

Hosted by
Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
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Want to ask a question or share a topic you would like us to cover? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we unpack one of the most talked-about transitions in the profession: the move from operational to strategic procurement.

We hear it everywhere. Procurement must become more strategic. Roles are evolving. Expectations are rising.

But what does that shift actually mean in practice?

And why does it feel harder than it sounds?

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore the realities behind the operational to strategic transition. They discuss why the word “strategic” is often misunderstood, how misalignment creates frustration, and why many procurement professionals feel stuck between firefighting and future thinking.

This episode shines a light on the behavioural, relational and mindset shifts required to move beyond operational delivery and into strategic influence.

In this episode we explore:

1. Defining what “strategic” really means
   Why the word is frequently used but rarely clarified, and how misalignment creates career friction.
2. Context matters
   How operational and strategic procurement look different depending on sector, organisation and leadership appetite.
3. The gap analysis
   Understanding whether the real gap is skills, relationships, visibility, confidence or support.
4. Stop waiting for permission
   Why strategic influence often begins before the title changes.
5. Visibility and communication
   The risk of internalising ambition and assuming others know what you want.
6. Strategic does not mean political
   Why influence is not manipulation and how values-led leadership still drives results.
7. The role of relationships
   How stakeholder trust and advocacy accelerate strategic progression.

Takeaways

• Clarity on what strategic procurement means in your current environment.
• A practical framework to assess the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
• Encouragement to take ownership of small, intentional shifts rather than waiting for a promotion.A reminder that strategic behaviour often precedes strategic titles.

Hosted by
Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
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Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to ask a question or share a topic you would like us to cover? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

#Procurement #ProcurementCareer #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #ProcurementProfessionals #ProcurementLeadership

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In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore why owning your strengths is not simply a development exercise and how procurement professionals can use their strengths to accelerate their careers. This is a strategic advantage in your procurement career.

We often hear the advice to “know your strengths.” But many procurement professionals either underestimate what they bring, build their careers around strengths they do not enjoy using, or assume others automatically see their value.

In a competitive and evolving procurement landscape, technical competence alone is not enough. The real differentiator lies in how you bring your strengths to life, how clearly you communicate them, and whether you are intentionally building your career around them.

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore how strengths shape confidence, influence and long-term career satisfaction. They discuss why understanding your strengths deeply matters, how overusing them can create blind spots, and how to close the gap between knowing your strengths and being known for them.

This episode shines a light on the practical and strategic role strengths play in career progression, visibility and opportunity within procurement.

In this episode we explore:

• Why strengths are foundational to career confidence
• How truly understanding your strengths creates clarity and momentum.
• The difference between being good at something and enjoying it
• Why competence alone is not enough to sustain long-term career growth.
• How strengths leave patterns across your career
• Identifying recurring themes, feedback and moments of success that reveal your true strengths.
• The visibility gap
• The difference between knowing your strengths and ensuring others recognise and value them.
• When strengths become overused
• How attention to detail, leadership, negotiation or relationship building can become liabilities under pressure.
• Gathering meaningful feedback
• Practical ways to uncover blind spots and ask the right question to understand how others see you at your best.

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of how strengths influence career direction and progression in procurement.
• Practical tools to identify patterns and close the visibility gap.
• Encouragement to build a career around strengths you enjoy using, not just those you perform well.
• A reminder that owning your strengths is not self-promotion. It's strategic positioning.

Hosted by

Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career

Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly

Listen on Apple and Spotify

Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots

Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots

Want to ask a question or share a topic you would like us to cover? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

#Procurement #ProcurementCareer #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #ProcurementProfessionals #Procurementleadership

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Navigating Restructure in Procurement Series – Part 4

In this final episode of our four-part series on navigating restructure in procurement, we turn our attention to the team perspective.

We have explored what happens when you exit an organisation, when you remain following change, and what leadership looks like in times of uncertainty. Now we focus on the collective impact. Because restructures do not just affect individuals. They reshape team dynamics, trust, identity and performance.

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore the responsibility and opportunity procurement teams have to reset intentionally after change. They discuss how trust can quietly erode, how old loyalties and tensions can linger beneath the surface, and why reconnecting as a team is not a luxury but a necessity for future performance.

This episode shines a light on how procurement teams can rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships and move forward together with clarity and purpose.

In this episode we explore

1. The team’s responsibility to lead through change

Why leadership does not sit solely with the title holder and how team members can influence culture, standards and morale.

2. Re-establishing team identity and shared values

How defining who you want to be as a team creates stability and belonging after disruption.

3. Trust, tension and unspoken dynamics after restructure

Why unresolved issues can sit beneath the surface and what healthy teams do differently.

4. The ripple effect on stakeholder relationships

How internal unity directly impacts how procurement is perceived across the wider business.

5. Creating space to reconnect in a resource-stretched world

Why taking time to reset strategically builds long-term momentum and performance.

6. Recognising small wins to rebuild resilience

How collective recognition strengthens morale and reinforces progress during uncertain periods.

Takeaways

• A deeper understanding of how restructures affect team dynamics long after formal changes are announced.
• Practical reflections to help procurement teams rebuild trust and cohesion.
• Encouragement to have honest conversations rather than papering over cracks.
• A reminder that even in disruption, teams have agency in how they choose to move forward together.

Hosted by
Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
Listen on Apple and Spotify
Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to ask a question or share a topic you would like us to cover? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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Navigating Restructure in Procurement Series – Part 3

In this third episode of our four-part series on navigating restructures in procurement, we shift the lens to the procurement leader. Leading a team through organisational change can be one of the most challenging responsibilities in a senior role. You are supporting others while also managing your own emotions, dealing with ambiguity and being pulled in multiple directions by the business, stakeholders and your team.

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore what makes this leadership moment so uniquely complex, why it can feel isolating and how leaders can maintain clarity, presence and steadiness even when they do not have all the answers. They also discuss the role modelling effect leaders have, and how small actions and consistent communication can rebuild confidence and cohesion across the team.

Whether you are leading through change right now or preparing yourself for future transitions, this episode offers grounded perspective and practical guidance to help you navigate uncertainty with intention.

In this episode we explore:

1. The conflicting pressures placed on procurement leaders

How leaders are often managing their own emotional responses while also carrying the expectations of the business and the needs of their team.

2. Why visibility and consistent messaging matter more than ever

How being present, available and clear helps reduce anxiety and uncertainty across the team.

3. Role modelling calm, clarity and stability during change

Why the way a leader shows up shapes how the team experiences the transition and regains confidence.

4. Communicating honestly when you do not have all the answers

How transparency can build trust and reduce speculation in periods of ambiguity.

5. Resetting priorities and stakeholder expectations

The importance of realigning goals, boundaries and resource levels so the team can deliver sustainably after restructuring.

6. Finding the right support for yourself as a leader

Why leaders need space too, and how to stay resourced rather than isolated when navigating complex change.

Takeaways:

• Practical insight into the realities and pressures procurement leaders face during restructure.
• Tools to support your team while also protecting your own wellbeing and confidence.
• Guidance on communication, visibility and role modelling during periods of uncertainty.
• Reassurance that leadership challenges in transition are normal and that strong support and clarity can make a critical difference.

Hosted by
Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
Listen on Apple and Spotify
Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to ask a question or request a topic? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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Navigating Restructure in Procurement Series – Part 2

In Part 2 of our series on navigating restructure in procurement, Donna and Laura shift the focus to those who remain in the organisation after change has taken place. While redundancy often dominates the conversation, staying through a restructure comes with its own emotional, relational and professional challenges, many of which go unspoken.

Internal change can shake confidence, disrupt team and stakeholder dynamics, alter relationships and create prolonged periods of uncertainty. In this episode, Donna and Laura explore what really happens beneath the surface when you stay, why it affects people so differently, and how you can rebuild clarity and confidence during times of ongoing organisational change.

This episode is for anyone who is currently navigating internal restructure, leading through it, or preparing themselves for the reality of continuous change in the procurement landscape.

In this episode we explore:

1. The emotional impact of staying after a restructure: why guilt, relief, fear and doubt can coexist, even when your role is secure.
2. The long periods of uncertainty leading up to structural decisions: how whispers, speculation and lack of clarity can create stress that builds over time.
3. The importance of acknowledging your emotional response: why suppressing how you feel makes it harder to move forward with confidence.
4. Changing dynamics with colleagues and stakeholders: how role changes, competition and leadership turnover alter relationships and influence.
5. Managing fear based behaviours and protecting your energy: how to separate reaction from response and stay grounded in challenging environments.
6. The value of support networks and safe spaces: why speaking with trusted people helps you process change constructively.
7. Noticing opportunity within disruption: how restructure can also create moments of reset, clarity and positive career shifts.
8. Reconnecting with yourself and what you want long term: how understanding your values, needs and career direction helps you decide whether this is still the right environment for you.

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of the emotional and practical realities of staying after restructure.
• Strategies to rebuild confidence, manage uncertainty and navigate shifting dynamics.
• Reassurance that your feelings are valid and normal during times of change.
• Encouragement to use this period as a chance to reflect, reset and take intentional action for your future.

Hosted by

Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
Listen on Apple and Spotify
Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to share your experience or ask a question about navigating restructure? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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Navigating Restructure in Procurement – Series Part 1

In this new four part series, we explore the realities of navigating restructure in today’s procurement landscape. And in this first episode, we explore one of the most challenging experiences a procurement professional can face: being made redundant.

Redundancy is never a simple moment. It brings waves of emotion, identity questions and uncertainty about what comes next. But it can also mark the beginning of a more aligned chapter once the dust settles. In this conversation, Donna and Laura break down what actually happens in those first days and weeks, how to process the emotional impact and the small intentional steps that help you rebuild confidence and regain momentum.

Whether you are experiencing redundancy right now, supporting someone who is or simply preparing yourself for future change, this episode offers grounded, compassionate guidance for navigating the transition with clarity and strength.

In this episode we explore:

1. The emotional rollercoaster of redundancy
Why feelings such as shame, fear, relief and hope often coexist and why every emotion you experience is valid.

2. Identity, confidence and the impact of loss
How much of our identity is tied to our role and what happens when that structure suddenly disappears.

3. The importance of self compassion and self care
Why rest, routine and stepping away from the “job search hamster wheel” are essential for perspective and resilience.

4. Moving from overwhelm to clarity
Why diving straight into CV updates or scattergun applications rarely works and what to focus on instead.

5. Small steps that rebuild momentum
How to regain a sense of control through manageable actions, reflection and reconnecting with your strengths and achievements.

6. Learning from regret without staying stuck
How to use “I wish I had…” moments as insight for the future rather than punishment for the past.

7. Why support matters more than ever
The role of community, trusted people and free resources that can help you feel less alone and more empowered.

Takeaways

• A compassionate understanding of the emotional and practical challenges that follow redundancy.
• A clear, realistic path for rebuilding momentum through intentional small steps.
• Encouragement to focus on clarity, confidence and support rather than urgency or pressure.
• Reassurance that redundancy does not diminish your value, capability or the opportunities ahead.

Hosted by

Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
Listen on Apple and Spotify
Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to ask a question or suggest a topic for the series? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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In this episode, Laura takes us behind the scenes of the team coaching work she has been delivering across procurement functions in the UK and internationally. While most leaders approach her with a specific challenge or goal in mind, the deeper work almost always centers around one thing: impact.

Using her 7-Step P.R.O.C.U.R.E Framework, Laura walks through the practical and human elements that shape how a procurement team performs, collaborates and influences. Whether you are leading a team, joining a new one, or navigating change, this episode offers an inside look at the patterns, behaviours and dynamics that determine real team impact.

Donna guides the conversation, drawing out the lived examples, common challenges and practical steps leaders can take when their teams hit transition points, face recurring issues, or simply want to elevate performance.

In this episode we explore

1. The real reason procurement leaders ask for team support

Most requests are triggered by transition, change, or the desire to move from good to high performing.

2. Why understanding team PURPOSE matters

The starting point of the P.R.O.C.U.R.E Framework and the foundation of choosing the right intervention.

3. The importance of assessing team REALITY

Before any workshop or coaching begins, the team’s current state, emotions and needs must be understood.

4. How to surface OPPORTUNITY and move the team forward

Creating space to explore what is possible, what can improve, and what commitments the team wants to make.

5. Common team CHALLENGES and how to approach them

From category silos to tension after restructure, recurring issues often signal deeper needs that must be addressed safely.

6. Why UNDERSTANDING self is essential for team impact

How confidence, mindset and identity shape how professionals show up in the room and how stakeholders experience the team.

7. The role of RELATIONSHIPS in procurement team performance

Navigating dynamics, building alignment and strengthening collaboration across stakeholders.

8. How teams EVOLVE

Translating insight into action, taking ownership and committing to continued development.

Takeaways

• A clear understanding of the 7-Step P.R.O.C.U.R.E Framework and how it transforms team performance.
• Insight into the patterns and challenges procurement teams face during change, transition or growth.
• Practical reflections to help leaders identify when their team may need external support.
• Examples of how team coaching can strengthen collaboration, unity and impact.

Hosted by

Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
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Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to ask a question or explore team coaching support? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or contact Donna or Laura directly.

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In this episode, Donna and Laura revisit one of the most requested topics on the podcast: positioning, with a dedicated focus on external career moves.

With the market shifting again and early signs of improvement for 2026, many procurement professionals are already considering whether this might be the year to explore a new role. The challenge is that the job market at senior level remains highly competitive, and the old approach of updating the CV and starting to apply is no longer enough.

Drawing on 25+ years of combined experience across senior recruitment, career coaching and leadership development, Donna breaks down the six step positioning framework she uses with senior clients to help them stand out, build confidence and secure roles that genuinely align with their future direction.

Whether you're actively seeking a new position or simply want to future-proof your career, this episode gives you the practical, honest guidance you need to navigate today’s market with clarity and intention.

In this episode we explore

1. Why clarity must come before action

How reconnecting with what you actually want transforms every part of the job search and why skipping this step leads to generic CVs, misaligned applications and lost confidence.

2. Understanding your unique value and story

Why your experience alone is not what differentiates you and how to identify, articulate and confidently own the strengths that make you stand out.

3. Building a CV that tells a compelling narrative

Why context matters as much as outcomes, the common mistakes that close doors and how to ensure your CV communicates impact rather than tasks.

4. Optimising your LinkedIn profile for visibility and credibility

How hiring managers and researchers actually use LinkedIn and the essentials you need in place to be found for senior level roles.

5. The power of networking and the hidden job market

Why most senior procurement roles are filled through relationships rather than adverts and the small, consistent actions that expand your reach and opportunities.

6. Preparing for interviews long before you are invited

How early preparation builds confidence, reduces pressure and changes the way you show up, plus why practising out loud is non negotiable.

Takeaways

• A clear and practical framework to guide your 2026 job search with confidence and intention.
• A deeper understanding of what truly differentiates you in a competitive senior market.
• Tools to strengthen every touchpoint of your positioning including CV, LinkedIn, networking and interviews.
• Encouragement to step back, rethink your direction and build a strategy that aligns with the career you want next.

Hosted by

Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
Listen on Apple and Spotify
Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to ask a question or suggest a topic?
Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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Donna Bowden Interviews Laura Sellers

This week, we continue our two-part mini-series where we turn the microphones on each other.

After more than 30 episodes together, many listeners have asked a similar question.

“How do the two of us support procurement professionals differently, and what does that look like in practice?”

In last week’s episode, Laura interviewed Donna.

This week, Donna interviews Laura.

In this conversation, Laura shares the career journey that led her into executive and leadership coaching, why she chose to specialise in procurement, and how her business has evolved from one-to-one coaching into team coaching, leadership development programmes and coaching qualifications.

Laura also talks about the pivotal experiences that shaped her coaching approach, the challenges she sees across procurement leadership teams, and why a confidential thinking partnership can be transformational for senior professionals navigating complexity, politics and change.

In this episode we explore

1. How Coaching for Procurement began

Laura’s journey from recruitment, to procurement leadership, to discovering coaching during the pandemic and building a business that supports leaders and teams at every stage of their evolution.

2. The challenges facing senior procurement leaders and teams

Why restructures, shifting expectations and rising pressure make the leadership role feel heavier than ever and how coaching creates space to think, recover and rebuild.

3. Why senior leaders benefit from an external thinking partner

The isolation that often comes with senior roles, the impact of internal politics, and the value of having a safe, neutral space to challenge assumptions and regain clarity.

4. How team coaching unlocks more than traditional training

The silent dynamics that shape performance, the power of psychological safety, and why real progress happens when a team can speak honestly in the same room.

5. Advice for procurement leaders stepping into 2026

Why investing in yourself and your team matters more than ever, and how targeted development can build confidence, capability and long-term impact.

Takeaways

A clearer understanding of Laura’s career story and the purpose behind Coaching for Procurement.

Insight into the real challenges procurement leaders face behind the scenes and how coaching supports them to navigate complexity.

An appreciation of the difference between one-to-one coaching, team coaching and leadership development, and when each one adds the most value.

Encouragement for leaders who feel stretched, isolated or under pressure, and reassurance that the right support can make meaningful progress possible.

Hosted by

Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly
Listen on Apple and Spotify
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
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Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or contact Donna or Laura directly.